Improvement in life-preserving mattresses



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Life-Preserving Mattl esms.

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Attorneys.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. WOODFINE, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN LlFE-PRESERVING MATTRESSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 143,313, dated September 30, 1873; application filed August 9, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. Woonrmn, of Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Mattress and Life-Preserver, of which the following is a specification:

The invention consists in the improvement of mattress life-preservers, as hereinafter described and pointed out in the claim.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a mattress and life-preserver constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on the line 00 no of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, showing the position when the ends are turned up on the middle, as when floating a passenger. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 3.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents theend sections; B, the middle section, to which the end sections are connected; and O, the detachable middle section. The sections A and B are stuffed partly with hair, jute, eXcelsior, or other like material D,

and partly with cork strips E, and the section 0 is stuffed wholly with hair or other substance ordinarily used in mattresses. It is employed to level up the middle section of the mattress when used as a bed. The cork strips are out thin, and the requisite quantity of cork is made up of several strips, which are separated a little from each other by hair, excelsior, and the like, to cause the water to surround them quickly to expose as much surface as possible to the water, to increase the buoyancy and the strength which results from the swelling of the cork when Wet. The end sections are jointed to the middle section by the cords F and straps G, as shown, so that they can swing up edgewise on the middle section when it sinks by the weight of a person, and they are provided on the ends which are then uppermost with cords H to lash them to the shoulders of the occupants. Other cords, I, are arranged on the edges of the middle and end sections for grasp ing the float by one floating in the Water, and they are provided with the loops J, also, for grasping hold of and for making temporary row-locks, in which to use paddles for propelling the raft. They are also designed for coupling a niunber of floats together by poles K to make a bridge.

As a bed the mattress can be used either side up, and either section B or O can be used uppermost.

More or less hair or other soft material may be placed on the cork strips; but I prefer to arrange them directly under the sack or case of the mattress.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A life-preserving mattress having the end sections connected with the middle section by straps F G that interlock, one sliding upon the other and both together, allowing the said end sections to turn up on either side of the middle one, as and for the purpose described.

. JOHN J. WOODFINE.

Witnesses T. B. MOSHER, ALEX. F. Ronnnrs. 

